Khabib Nurmagomedov

How Many Fights Did Khabib Nurmagomedov Have In UFC? Find Out 

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Picture Credit: Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Instagram

Khabib Nurmagomedov had a total of 13 UFC fights after signing for the MMA promotion in 2012. He took his retirement in 2020. The longevity of his UFC career was 8 years. He predominantly performed in the Lightweight division, winning the UFC Lightweight Championship once. 

The 36-year-old specialized in Sambo wrestling, taking down his opponents as early as possible. Due to his superior ground game, he controlled not only each fight but also each round of his fighting career. Throughout his MMA career, The Eagle lost only two rounds, one against Conor McGregor and another against Justin Gaethje. 

Nurmagomedov was among the elite fighters to remain undefeated in his entire UFC career, retiring with an astonishing record of 29-0. Competing in his 13 UFC fights, he won and dominated all of them, keeping his UFC record intact at 13-0. 

Even though Khabib was a renowned grappler due to his unparalleled mastery on the mat, he didn’t shy away from striking. Facing Conor McGregor, he startled him with a brutal punch that almost knocked out his arch-rival. After taking his opponents to the ground, he would maul them with merciless punches and elbows. His striking ability on the ground led to 8 knockout victories in his career. 

On the other hand, he became proficient in his Brazilian Jij-Jitsu skills alongside his wrestling prowess. Consequently, he ended up having 11 wins through submissions in his career.  From the triangle choke to the rear naked choke to the armbar, he perfected various submission techniques as his career progressed. 

Notable UFC Fights Of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Career 

Khabib encountered various obstacles throughout his career, facing elite performers with diverse specialties. In 2017, a 29-year-old Nurmagomedov crossed paths with a top striker like Edson Barboza at UFC 219. 

The Brazilian’s devastating kicks rattled the Russian warrior a couple of times, but he kept his cool while showing unbreakable willpower. On the mat, Khabib dominated Edson, winning the match and the ‘Performance of the Night’ award. 

Facing Al Iaquinta, Khabib was poised to win the vacant Lightweight Championship, and he did it in style at UFC 224. The fighter from New York demonstrated valor, and the fight continued for five rounds. The Russian fighter dominated all rounds to win the fight. 

However, Khabib’s most notable rivalry was against Conor McGregor at UFC 229, making it the highest-selling pay-per-view in the company’s history. With 2.4 million buys, the record is still intact. 

It all began after McGregor made headlines by attacking Khabib’s bus, igniting his inner fire. In the heated press conferences leading up to the match, The Notorious One was in his usual self, insulting Khabib’s family and taking digs at his personal life.

The build-up of the rivalry intrigued the casual and hardcore MMA fans, making it the most successful MMA event to date. Despite losing the first-ever round of his career, Khabib was in the driver’s seat throughout the bout. Forcing Conor to tap out in the fourth round by submission, he jumped over the octagon to attack Conor’s team. It created mayhem and one of the most chaotic scenes in UFC history. 

Khabib Was The Longest Reigning UFC Lightweight Champion 

After winning the vacant Lightweight Championship by beating Al Iaquinta, Khabib remained a champion for two and half years until his retirement, becoming the longest reigning champion in the title’s history. His maiden title defense was against the former champ, Conor McGregor, in the high voltage encounter, where The Eagle was comprehensively victorious. 

In his second title defense, he crossed paths with Dustin Poirier at UFC 242, who was also the interim lightweight champion. When Dustin trapped Nurmagomedov in a guillotine, he looked in big trouble, but he eventually forced Poirier to submit via rear naked choke to unify the titles. 

For his third and final fight, Khabib was originally slated to take on Tony Ferguson, but it didn’t occur due to the champ’s travel restrictions during the pandemic. He later faced Justin Gaethje, who previously defeated Ferguson, in a title bout at UFC 254. Winning the match by a triangle choke, Khabib hung up his boots, retiring as the unbeaten and undisputed UFC Lightweight Champion. 

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s UFC Legacy 

Khabib has created a perennial legacy in the world of MMA. For his monumental success, he was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2022. Taking into account he retired at the young age of 32 when most fighters remain in their heyday, he could have prolonged his career while keeping the unbeaten record untouched. 

Owing to his influence and contribution to UFC, Khabib would go down as one of the greatest fighters in history, alongside the likes of Jon Jones, Anderson Silva, and Georges St-Pierre. When it comes to UFC’s lightweight division, he is often seen as the weight class’s best fighter in history.